Khaya senegalensis

(African mahogany)

FAMILY

Meliaceae

Species

Khaya senegalensis

Common name

African mahogany

Flower colour; life form

Cream; tree

Campus

Townsville

Description

This tree from central and west Africa, has a smooth grey-barked trunk, and it can be distinguished from Swieteniaby the different shaped leaves and the smaller globular fruit. The pinnate leaves have 8-10 elliptical leaflets, which do not taper gradually to the apex; the midrib is more or less flush with the upper surface of the blade. The fruit is a similar woody capsule but it is smaller to about 8 cm long and differs in shape. This species is resistant to termites but not to very strong winds. Fruiting summer.

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